Orient Yacht Club runs a junior sailing program for kids ages 8 and up. Classes meet Monday-Friday from late June through late August, 9:00 am to noon. Non-members can join by paying a $200 Junior Use Permit for the season, which gives access to club facilities and junior activities.
The program offers two types of boats: Optimists for solo sailing and 420s for two-person teams. Opti classes progress through three levels, from basic rigging and boat handling to racing tactics and regatta sailing. Sailors who prefer not to race can join Sailing Adventures instead. The 420 program starts with 420 Foundations, where sailors learn about working as a skipper and crew, using spinnakers and the trapeze, before moving on to the 420 Racing Team.
This summer, Opti I is offered in one- and two-week sessions for anyone who wants to try the program before signing up for a full month. One-week sessions run June 29–July 3 or July 27–31. Two-week sessions run June 29–July 10 or July 27–August 7. Sailors who want to continue can sign up for the rest of the session at a prorated fee, if there is space.
Each Opti sailor needs to bring their own boat. Boats can be shared with another sailor in a different class time, and the club can help families who want to borrow or share a boat. There are six club-owned 420s available to rent.
Classes run Monday-Friday, 9:00 am to noon, June 29 through August 21. For non-members, Opti I costs $700 for one week, $1,200 for two weeks, $2,125 for four weeks, and $3,300 for the full summer. 420 non-member fees are $2,570 for four weeks and $4,000 for the full summer. Member rates are lower. The Junior Use Permit is $200 per sailor for the season.